We’re going to show you 4 different ways to fry an egg so that you can make the perfect sunny-side up, over easy, over medium and over hard. Let’s get started!
When To Use Fried Eggs
Fried eggs are a quick (and cheap) way to get a healthy boost of protein. Fried eggs can be made in a variety of ways and in a variety of recipes. You can serve them on toast for breakfast, over rice, potatoes, over roasted vegetables, with steak… the possibilities are endless! My favorite way to have a fried egg is on some avocado toast with cheese and a slice of fresh tomato.
What Type of Pan is Best for Fried Eggs?
A non-stick pan, skillet, or griddle is the easiest to use and I would recommend it to everyone starting out. Nonstick skillets are by far the most fool proof way to go. If you want to use a cast iron skillet, be sure to use one that is well seasoned. The more seasoned the pan, the more non-stick qualities it will have. Stainless steel pans are my least favorite because they stick the most and you have more of a risk of breaking the yolk.
Fried Eggs 4 Ways:
There are 4 basic ways of frying eggs and you have probably heard of most of them: Sunny side up, over easy, over medium, and over hard. We will go through each method in detail so you will get perfect fried eggs, your favorite way, every time. The nice thing about fried eggs is they are basically all done the same way, just for different amounts of time. No matter what pan you use, keep the heat on low to medium low heat. Pan-frying over medium heat or medium-high heat will make your oil too hot and will discolor your eggs.
1. Sunny Side Up:
Sunny-side up eggs are the easiest to identify. The egg whites are fully cooked and the bright yellow yolk is resting on top. The yolk stays visible because the egg is never flipped. With this method you get the most runny yolk. Sunny side up eggs are great for dipping toast and great for presentation with dishes like Chilaquiles and Shakshuka because of the colorful yolk.
How to Make Eggs Sunny Side Up:
Break the egg (fresh eggs are best) into a greased pan over low heat. You can use butter, bacon fat, olive oil, or just plain cooking spray. Do not cover you pan with a lid in attempt to cook faster. The yolk will start cooking from the top and lose its beautiful color. Add a teaspoon of water after 30 seconds or so to help the egg cook a little faster. Cook until the whites of the egg become opaque and the egg can slide easily around the pan. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
2. Over Easy:
Over easy eggs have a runny yolk, much like a sunny side up egg, however the yolk isn’t as visible. They hold up better when served in sandwiches because the yolk doesn’t break as easily.
How to Make Eggs Over Easy:
Cook egg according to sunny side up directions. Flip and cook for another 20 seconds. Only cook long enough to harden up the egg whites a little more. The yolk should still be completely runny.
3. Over Medium
Over medium eggs can have yolks that are still quite runny to only slightly runny. The spectrum here can be quite wide. Most of the time, over medium eggs have yolks that are only about half way cooked through. When you cut it open, you can see the runny yolk surrounded by hardened yolk.
How to Make Eggs Over Medium
For over medium eggs, you simply cook another minute longer than you would cook an over easy egg. You should be able to tell the doneness by pressing on the outside of the yolk. It should still be somewhat soft and bounce back.
4. Over Hard
Over hard eggs have yolks that are completely cooked through. You can either break the yolk to hurry the process or you can allow the yolk to harden without breaking it. One advantage to breaking the yolk is that it can be more evenly distributed throughout the cooked egg. For those who want to still experience the taste of the yolk can keep it intact. There really is no wrong way here as long as the yolk is totally hard and cooked through. Over hard eggs are great on sandwiches, especially when you don’t want to make a yolk-y mess.
How to Make Eggs Over Hard
Continue cooking the eggs until the yolk cooks through. When you flip the egg, you can press down on the yolk until it breaks or you can puncture it with a fork before or after cooking. Remove from the pan as soon as the yolk is cooked through, no longer. Even though the egg is over hard, you don’t want it to get rubbery.
Recipes Using Fried Eggs:
READ NEXT: 33+ Super Easy Breakfast Ideas
Shakshuka
Avocado Toast – 3 Ways!
Easy and Simple Chilaquiles Recipe: A Traditional Mexican Breakfast
Avocado Bacon and Egg Sandwich
More Easy Ways to Cook Eggs
Now that you know how to fry an egg, now try some of these other easy and delicious ways of cooking eggs:
How To Make Scrambled Eggs
Easy-to-Peel Eggs Recipe {Secret to Make the Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs}
Omelette in a Bag
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